Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 24 25

Join the discussion on our Education forum.

Education

Yes/no poll on religion in state schools.

625 replies

seeker · 08/09/2009 14:32

Do you think state schools should be secular, but with RE lessons giving information about all the main world religions as part of the curriculum?

OP posts:

Report

flimflammum · 08/09/2009 15:25

Yes, absolutely right. I was quite peed off when I discovered that the local vicar had come in to my DS's C of E pre-school playgroup and talked about Jesus rising from the dead at Easter - they were 3-yr-olds fgs! I then had to try to explain that one to DS, when I don't believe it myself. If they had warned me I would have opted him out of it, or at least been prepared for some odd questions. And btw, it was the only primary school in the village, if there was a choice between a C of E and secular pre-school, I would have chosen secular.

littleducks · 08/09/2009 15:27

Yes, as long as it doesnt go so far as in France, i would have to pay private school fees/home educate dd if she wasnt allowed to wear a headscarf in school

GoldenSnitch · 08/09/2009 15:35

flimflammum - My nephew's favourite phrase for a while was "I'm going to crucify you" after having had a lesson at his C of E school!!! And then my MIL wonders why I don't want to move to send DS there!?!?!

slug · 08/09/2009 16:03

Absolutely.

TheDMshouldbeRivened · 08/09/2009 16:06

no.
Think about it. US schools are secular and no religion allowed. US is stuffed with religious people.
Here - religion part of school. Population ow only 4% Christian.
So, if you are religious you'd be asking for no religion in schools right

GreatGooglyMoogly · 08/09/2009 16:07

Yes.

LaurieFairyCake · 08/09/2009 16:14

Yes, church and state should not be linked

happywomble · 08/09/2009 16:18

Thankfully this isn't representative of real life in my experience. In my town 3 out of 5 primaries are church schools and these three schools are the most popular, are oversubscribed and get the best results. I've never heard anyone complain about the religious status of schols in my town.

The impression I have of the french secular state system is that it is worse than our own.

PoptyPing · 08/09/2009 16:19

Yes to OP and what fennel said

Reallytired · 08/09/2009 16:23

The problem with some religous symbols is how far to allow people to go. Its one thing for someone to wear a hijab, but I think its reasonable to ban the nijab.

Children with hearing impairements find it hard to lip read if they cannot see some one's face. Some religous clothing is a health and safety hazard.

The problem with religous symbols is where to draw the line. A total ban is the only fair way.

TheDMshouldbeRivened · 08/09/2009 16:24

the hijab does not cover the face. And if a girl of 16 wants to wear it then she should be allowed.

Hassled · 08/09/2009 16:25

Yes, agree with OP. Lots on comparative religion, teach them all about every religion going in a respectful and fair manner, but don't impose a view on them.

mathanxiety · 08/09/2009 16:28

No religion whatsoever (like American public schools).

littleducks · 08/09/2009 16:28

do you mean a niqab? that covers the face, im talking about headscarfs (hijab) which dd will be wearing from about year six age i expect

kinderfool · 08/09/2009 16:29

Yes definitely secular but with all major religions taught factually without bias, same as any other subject.

Reallytired · 08/09/2009 16:34

Do you think that this girl is being reasonable?

www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3637473/Niqab-school-is-fighting-for-girls-equality.html

TheDMshouldbeRivened · 08/09/2009 16:38

the hijab is compulsory to all women past the age of puberty, the niqab is not.

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 08/09/2009 16:41

Yes, all schools should be secular. There don't seem to be many voices here saying otherwise.

abra1d · 08/09/2009 16:42

No. I don't.

justabouteatingchocolate · 08/09/2009 16:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

UnquietDad · 08/09/2009 16:44

What would actually be the problem with all state schools being secular? How would it inconvenience anybody or prevent them for carrying on their religion?

UnquietDad · 08/09/2009 16:44

prevent FROM sorry...

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Email address

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Lizzylou · 08/09/2009 16:45

No

Drusilla · 08/09/2009 16:46

Definitely yes

SolidGoldBrass · 08/09/2009 16:48

Another yes, 100% yes. They can learn about religions in history/geography/philosophy classes (you won't learn much history if you ban all mention of the various bad things done in the name of superstition, after all).
But I would and do campaign for getting rid of compulsory worship in schools. If you want your child to engage in rituals, there are plenty of places to do and do it communally and you can do it at home - why bore children with it when it's irrelevant to many of them anyway?

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 24 25

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.